GH 8

[Mills]

Thanks for the shell Brian! Yes, I started out looking for a fixer up, but this one does not need anything. The stock is brand new.

I have had a 10 double on me a few times and it was not that bad. Hope that does not happen with this one.

My son looked at the trigger and said the gun was missing a trigger.

[Mike Franzen]

Congrats Mills on a super nice Parker! You done good.

[Opening Day]

Mills bring that gun to the Southern, I may know that gun.....

[Researcher]

FWIW, here is my 8-gauge UMC/Rem-UMC shotshell offerings info --

I have looked through some of my old Union Metallic Cartridge Co. catalogues, and find their 8-gauge shells were only offered loaded with bulk smokeless powder or black powder. I don't find any 8-gauge loadings with dense smokeless powders.

In 1903, 04 and 05, UMC's 8-gauge shell was the "Trap" shell, green in color. Bulk smokeless powder loads were --

5 drams with 1 1/2 ounces of shot
5 1/2 drams with 1 3/4 ounce of shot
6 drams with 2 ounces of shot.

In black powder loads they offered --

5 drams with 1 1/2 ounces of shot
5 1/2 drams with 1 3/4 ounces of shot
6 drams with 2 ounces of shot
6 1/2 drams with 2 ounces of shot
6 1/2 drams with 2 1/4 ounces of shot
7 drams with 2 ounces of shot
7 drams with 2 1/4 ounces of shot.

None of these catalogues mention the length of the shell these loads are put up in. UMC's primed empty 8-gauge paper shell, equivalent to the "Trap" shell, was head stamped "Expert" and was offered in 3 1/4 inch length for $25 per thousand, and 3 1/2 to 4 inch lengths for $28 per thousand.

By 1910, the "Trap" and "Expert" were gone and the 8-gauge offerings were in the "Arrow" shell, salmon color. Bulk smokeless powder loads offered were listed as being in a 3 1/4 inch case --

5 drams with 1 1/2 ounces of shot
5 1/2 drams with 1 3/4 ounces of shot.

There was no offering of loaded extra length 8-gauge shells.

Black powder loads offered were --

5 drams with 1 1/2 ounces of shot
6 drams with 1 3/4 ounces of shot
7 drams with 2 ounces of shot.

The "Arrow" primed empty 8-gauge shells were stamped HANDLOADED on the side and were offered in 3 1/4 inch length for $25 per thousand and the 3 1/2 to 4 inch lengths for $28 per thousand, and all carried the notation "bulk powder only."

Through the 1915-16 Remington Arms-Union Metallic Cartridge Co. catalogue the 8-gauge offerings remained the same as 1910. By the 1918-19 Rem-UMC catalogue only the 3 ¼ inch empties were being offered and the only bulk smokeless load was 5 ½ drams with 1 ¾ ounce of shot. Black powder loads remained the same.

[Greg Phillips]

Beautiful gun, very nice clean engraving, enjoy. And yes heading in the other direction 28 then 410...Congrats

[Mills]

Thanks for all the responses and compliments.

Dave, thank you for that loading info.

[Fishtail]

Mills, sorry if I am cutting in on your thread, I will delete this if you wish. I love comparison like this, though, and here is a photo I took for my brother some time ago. It's the GH8 Damascus below the GH28 Damascus.

[Mills]

No problem Fishtail. Great photo!

[C.O.B.]

Greg that GH 28 damascuss has to be a rare gun. What are the barrel lengths and chokes? Perhaps you could share more with us as it deserves it's own thread.

[Fishtail]

It is a 26" barrel gun with 14" LOP. I don't recall the chokes other than 'it has some'. I'll see what I can dig up on it, it's been a while since I pulled it out of the safe. It lettered from 1903.